To boldly go where no fool has gone before....

Writing....the final frontiere......

these are the voyages of the slightly off kilter on their quest for autonomy.

ok.... so statistics show that most people change jobs several times in their lifetime. Read...[change jobs, not change careers].

If I take a close gander at my resume (frighteningly schizophrenic in its diversity) I can count more post graduate jobs than I have fingers on both hands. And of these steps up the corporate ladder of success, there have been at least five different changes of direction or "Wow I want a do that!" life altering moments.

Each time in the past though, those nail biting, hair brained changes were backed up by healthier paychecks that thankfully came at regular intervals and thus allowed me to continue eating on a day to day basis.

This time though, in seeking to write full time, and without the safety net of a full time job elsewhere, I feel as if I am taking more risk than that a Ringling Brother's Circus clown that is about to be shot out of a cannon.

So how do I begin? How do I turn what has always been a rewarding part-time gig into a life mission? Am I really going to be able to tap the writer in me and turn her into a full time journalist or will my folks just continue to think I am about a half a bubble off plumb?

How does a gal go about ever finding her true calling? And even if I do, how do I keep these fanciful dreams from falling into unrepairable pieces at my feet?

I mean, the bills will still keep coming and it has always been my deep-set fear of failure that has fueled my adrenalin and helped to keep me an over-achiever in the workforce. Am I now being foolish, throwing all that away for the principle of being known as a writer? To work for me, and not always for money?

To not lose faith in my goal, and to also try and minimize some bad habits, I decided this "Under Construction" project needed the help of a professional coach. Today was my first appointment and I think I am going to like this guy. Maybe it is because I knew him first as a friend but he has a gentle and joking approach that helps me to laugh at my shortcomings without feeling so much like a num-nutz and I think if I can stick it out, he will be able to call me on my bad habits and I may be better for it.

Will keep you updated as we venture into unchartered waters.